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Pursue Academic Excellence and Innovation
Intellectual vitality is the heart of our University. Richmont strives to attain excellence in its people, programs and processes. We self-perceive as leaders in the field, not followers. As such we embrace academic entrepreneurship, cutting-edge thinking, and operational innovation as a means to elevate ours into a University of first choice for top students, scholars, and staff.
To achieve this Aspiration, we will…
Expand academic offerings to include new master’s level as well as terminal degrees in counseling as well as ministry that meet emerging market demands and position us to be a destination university of first choice. In the same thoughtful yet bold vein, development of niche certificates and a rethinking of continuing education (CE) curricula should lead to greater market share and better use of academic program funding.
Take our emerging Online Campus to co-equal standing with Atlanta and Chattanooga in offering complete degree programs/certificates as well as new curricular offerings and a supporting virtual student learning community.
Incubate innovation through intra-university programs rewarding experimental teaching or administrative models that seek transformative impact on our learning culture.
Forge or reinvent partnerships with other “soul-care” minded universities, churches, nonprofits to foster fresh institutional growth opportunities that expand Richmont’s national and international reach through education, applied problem-solving/intervention, and recognized thought leadership.
Incentivize research and introduce proven high-impact experiential learning opportunities for faculty, staff, and students.
Update and expand the information technology platforms that support instruction, university operations, student information systems, learning management systems, and virtual learning communities for our growing online student population.
Foster a culture of assessment that supports continuous cyclical improvement in the areas of student learning, student services, and administration.
Principle Initiatives
2019
- Richmont launches CACREP-approved fully Online Clinical Mental Health Program. The first cohort of 13 fully online students joins the Richmont family.
- Richmont’s demonstrates its commitment to trauma recovery, play therapy, and Christian Counseling through new community-based partnerships with organizations throughout Atlanta and Chattanooga. Partnerships have been solidified with Crossroads Community Ministries, Eagle Overlook, Beloved, and an additional service at the City of Refuge.
- Over the past year, Richmont interns have been able to increase their client load, serving an additional 80% of clients on average each week.
- Our mission is expanded with new teaching, clinical and research, and administrative internship programs for students pursuing doctoral work in Counselor Education & Supervision, Higher Education Administration, and Diversity Administration.
- The Office of Alumni & Career services expanded and restructured Richmont’s Continuing Education program securing over 60% increase in annual revenue and an over 40% increase in Continuing Education attendance.
100% Complete or Complete & Ongoing
2020
- Richmont’s first Acting Provost, Dr. Joshua Rice begins his tenure.
- The newly formed Emerging Programs Task Force blasts off with two new programs in the works: The Certificate in Racial Trauma, Intervention and Justice (Fall 2021 launch) and the Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Formation and Leadership (Fall 2022 anticipated launch).
- New technologies have advanced the learning, clinical and community experiences of our faculty, students, and staff.
100% Complete or Complete & Ongoing
2021
- Received approval for Richmont’s level change application to begin offering Doctoral degrees, specifically, the Docorate of Ministry in Spiritual Formation and Leadership.
- Richmont’s School of Ministry completed their first full year cycle of continuous improvement, implementing many innovative changes to increase student success.
- Richmont’s School of Ministry introduces the new Master of Arts in Ministry: Racial Justice Concentration program.
- Placed interns and clinicians at 9 partner sites, pursuing new trainings in Somatic Experiencing in a Trauma Lens. Tobacco Cessation, CITI Training, Sex Addiction, and DBT-RODBT.
100% Deferred